Blaze rips through roof of county hotel

Firefighters from across Mid Wales spent more than four hours tackling a blaze which ripped through the roof of a Powys hotel.

Appliances from across the region were called to the Elan Valley Hotel, Rhayader, on Saturday at about 12.25pm.

A Mid and West Wales Fire Service spokeswoman said: "Five pumps and crews from Rhayader, Llandrindod Wells, Newtown, Llanwrtyd Wells and Builth Wells attended the scene on Saturday. The fire has affected the roof space of the hotel, but as yet we don't know how it started.

"We are awaiting the fire crews' report before we can give a cause."The spokeswoman said the hotel was evacuated, but no-one was hurt.

Fire crews returned to the hotel yesterday morning to check for hotspots.

"Firefighters returned to put the sheets over the affected part of the roof yesterday, which we hope will add some protection to the 10-bedroom hotel," she said.

No-one from the hotel was available for comment today, but one resident of Rhayader, who declined to be named, said she believed it was now closed.

She said: "I understand the hotel is now temporarily closed - until they find out the full extent of the damage I would imagine.

"I heard it was nothing too major and nobody was injured, but it is a lovely building and a great shame."